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March 17, 1964 s. E. BOONE VIBRA-PEN SCRIBER ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 7, 1-961 INVEN TOR. STEPHEN E. BOO/YE Mgrch 17, 1964 FiledApril 7) 1961 s. E. BOONE 3,125,401

VIBRA-PEN S CRIBER ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. STEPHEN 1 BOOME.

United States Patent C 3,125,401 VIBRA-PEN SCRIBER ASSEMBLY Stephen E.Boone, Mission Hiils, Caiifl, assignor, by mesne assignments, to theUnited States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyFiled Apr. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 101,604 4 Claims. (Cl. 346-140) Thisinvention relates to writing instruments, and has particular referenceto a writing instrument which finds particular utility when used withrecording instruments of the type which write upon a chart as a resultof relative motion between the chart and the stylus.

In recording instruments which record the motion of a vehicle across aportion of the earths surface by changing the position of the recordingsurface and the writing instrument relative to each other difiiculty hasbeen encountered in several aspects of the presentation. First of all toindicate time elapsed along the flight path a separate marking sequenceis usually needed. Secondly, the prior art devices usually were opaquethus causing difficulty in reading of the presented information.Further, previouswriting devices have produced markings which fail to beas distinct as would be desirable.

The present device contains several features which overcome many of thedifliculties of the prior art devices. First, large portions of thedevice are made of a transparent plastic to permit better viewing of themarkings. Secondly, aunique pen assembly which is movableperpendicularly with respect to the writing surface is used inconjunction with electrical writing and interrupting equipment toprovide an easily read line made of distinct dots which is interruptedperiodically to indicate the elapsed time.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a writinginstrument which may be used with recording devices of various kinds andwhich overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a writing instrumentwhich produces a more easily observable marking than prior art devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pen for recording thepath of vehicles that indicates elapsed time.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the pen assembly; FIG. 2 is a side elevation ofthe pen assembly;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the pen assembly; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry involved.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the carriage rides on two supporting rods 12 and14 above a Plexiglas writing surface 16 through which map 18 may beobserved. The carriage It), made of Plexiglas to facilitate viewing ofthe map surface and markings, contains apertures 20 and 22 through whichthe supporting rods 12 and 14 are inserted. The supporting rods are theonly portion of the system for transporting the pen assembly over thewriting surface that is shown in the drawing. The transporting systemforms no part of the invention and therefore is not described.

Pivotally supported at 24 above the carriage 10 is an ink reservoir 26.The ink reservoir 26 is made of an epoxy resin which will resist allcorrosive action of the ink and cleaning solvents and at the same timepermit the ink level to be observed through the wall of the reservoir.The reservoir is provided with a threaded cap 28 which may be opened forfilling. A spring loaded ball (not shown) employed inside the threadedcap to seal the res- 3,125,401 Patented Mar. 17, 1964 ervoir is tiedwith a small chain (not shown) to a large ball 30 on the top of the cap.Occasionally, a vacuum is created in the normally air tight reservoirwhich prevents the ink from flowing. If the large ball 30 is flipped bythe thumb the seal inside the cap is opened and a suificient amount ofair is permitted to enter the reservoir to cause the ink to flow again.

A pen point assembly 32 depends from the reservoir 26 through a hole 34in the Plexiglas carriage 10. The pen point assembly consists of amachined aluminum tube which is threaded at one end to screw into thereservoir. The other end of the tube, 36, is conically formed with amachined ball 38 press fitted in a hole at the apex of the cone. Thisball point 38 is spring loaded and releases the ink only when it isdepressed on the writing surface. The pen assembly and the reservoir aresupported in the opening 34 by a spring 40 axially mounted around thepen assembly 32 between the reservoir 26 and the carriage 10.

Two lead ball screws 42 and 44 are mounted on each side of the pen inthe Plexiglas carrier 10. The lead ball screws each contain a springloaded ball 46 which when the screw is properly adjusted rolls on theplotting surface. With the balls rolling on the surface the pen point 38in its unenergized position will travel a 16th of an inch off thesurface of the Plexiglas.

A solenoid 48 connected to the carriage 10 is used to bring the point ofthe pen 38 in contact with the Plexiglas writing surface 16. Activatingof the solenoid coil 50 attracts the solenoid armature 52 which througha linkage 54 causes the ink reservoir 26 to compress the spring 40,bringing the point of the pen to touch the Plexiglas writing surface.

Referring to FIGURE 4 closing of a switch 56 causes current to flow fromthe tube 58 through the relay 60. Activating of the relay couplescontact 7 to 8 and 3 to 4. Coupling of contacts 3 and 4 connects thenegative voltage 62 to the grid of tube 58. This negative voltage cutsoff the tube and thus de-energizes the relay. The de-energization of therelay decouples terminals 7 and 8 and 3 and 4 while coupling terminals 2and 4 to provide a discharge path for capacitor 68. The negative voltageis thus lifted from the grid of tube allowing this tube to conduct thusbeginning another cycle. The frequency with which this cycle repeatsitself is determined by how fast the negative voltage is discharged thruan RC cirsuit made of a variable resistor 66 and a capacitor 68interposed between the grid of the tube 58 and ground.

The variable resistor may be adjusted to vary the fre-' quency of thecycling between the limits of 5 to 10 cycles a second.

The opening and closing of contacts 7 and 8 alternately connects anddisconnects a 6 volt power supply 70 to a terminal 72 of amulti-terminal switch 74 thereby providing a time base on the writ-ingsurface which is independent of the particular channel then beingrecorded. The switch 74 connects this input to one of several channels.Each channel is connected with a cam operated switch. The cams 76 and 78are driven by a constant speed timing motor 80 and have indentations inthem which open the circuits when the contacts 82 and 84 pass over them.The opening and closing of the contacts 82 and 84 periodicallyinterrupts the flow of the current from the 6 volt supply 70 to the coilof the solonoid 50 to identify which channel is being recorded. When itbecomes desirable to bypass the vibrating and interrupting circuitsdepressing of a microswitch 86 connects the 6 volt supply directly tothe coil of the solenoid 50.

The second tube 88 and the other wafer 90 of the multiterminal switchcompose a squelch circuit to halt the cycling of the vibrator circuitryduring the switching interval of the multiterminal switch 74. The secondtube 88 is normally inoperative. However, when the multiterminal switch74 is turned, during the interval of the change, the secondmultiterminal switch 90 shorts the grid of the second tube 88 to ground.This causes the second tube to conduct. When the tube conducts thevoltage at its plate becomes negative. The plate is connected to thegrid of the first tube and when it becomes negative it cuts olf the gridof the first tube. The time for which the plate of the tube 88 remainsnegative is determined by the time constant of a circuit composed of acapacitor 92, a variable resistor 94, and a fixed resistor 96. Thesquelch circuit may also be operated by the closing of multiterminalswitch 98.

In operation when the starting switch 56 is closed the vibrating circuitcomposed of the relay 60 and the tube 58 couples and uncouples the sixvolt D.C. supply 70 to the coil of the solenoid 50 at the rate of tocycles per second. In this manner the solenoid is alternately energizedand de-energized so that during the period of energization its armature52 through a linkage 54 overcomes the force of the spring 40 and pressesthe penpoint 32 against the writing surface 16 and during the periods ofde-energization the spring 40 returns the pen 36 to its rest position.When the pen 36 is depressed its point 33 is forced back into the barrelpermitting ink to How around it and thus causing a mark to appear on thewriting surface. Because the lead ball screws 86 keep the distancebetween the writing surface 16 and the pen point 38 in its rest positionconstant and because the solenoid voltage is unvarying the force withwhich the point hits the writing surface does not change. This has theeffect of keeping the markings uniform.

To permit measurements of time and velocities the vibrating signal ispassed through a cam operated switch 76. The cam which is driven by a 1r.p.m. motor opens the contacts 82 and 84 periodically. This opens upthe circuit between the oscillating voltage source and the solenoid 50and thus deactivates the solenoid. This periodic de-activation of thesolenoid withdraws the pen from the writing surface and thus leavesblank spaces in the inscribed line. Since these blank spaces occur attimed intervals they may be counted to determine elapsed time betweenevents and the distance between them may be measured to determine thespeed of the tracked vehicle.

If several vehicles are to be tracked turning of the multiterminalswitch 74 will switch one of the cams 76 out of the circuit andintroduce the other 78. As shown two cams are used, however, as manycams as desired may be added. As two channels are only shown in thedrawing, terminals 1 and 2 are shown shorted to terminals 5 and 6. Ifthree channels are to be used an additional cam would have to beprovided in addition to opening the connection between terminals 1 and 2and terminals 3 and 4. Each of the cams has a unique timing periodassociated with it to identify the respective information channelassociated therewith. The differences in the lines caused by thedifferent time periods will enable the observer to distinguish onevehicle channel from another.

While the channels are being changed the second wafer on the two waferswitch shorts the grid of the squelch circuit to ground. This is becausewhen the information channels are changed from one to another, thecontact of 90, being ganged to 74, moves from an odd numbered terminalto another adjacent odd numbered terminal through an even numberedterminal. As all the even numbered terminals are grounded, the grid oftube 88 will be shorted to ground during a channel change. This puts alarge negative voltage on the grid of the vibrator tube 58 and thusuncouples terminals 7 and 8. The uncoupling of terminals 7 and 8prevents the marking of the inscribing surface during the changeinterval.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What I claim is:

l. A pen for inscribing lines on surfaces to indicate the flight pathand speed of vessels comprising,

a carriage having,

a transversely extending aperture through approximately the centerthereof,

electromagnetic means recessively connected to the body of said carriageand disposed in flush arrangement therewith,

supporting means connected to said carriage, said carriage beingslidable therewith,

marking means longitudinally disposed angularly within said aperture ina non-writing position,

reservoir marking means at one end pivotedly mounted on the top portionof said carriage body adjacent one edge thereof and having thenon-marking end of said marking means terminating in the lower portionof said reservoir means thereby providing gravity feeding for saidmarking means,

armature means juxtaposed to said electromagnetic means and rotatablydisposed at one end thereof adjacent the other oppositely positionedcarriage edge, link means pivotedly coupling the other end of saidarmature means and the other end of said reservoir marking means, 7

spring bias means encircling said marking means whereby energization ofsaid electromagnetic means will rotate the armature means and coupled,reservoir means against the spring bias means to thereby verticallyposition the pen means preparatory to the marking operation. 2. Thedevice of claim 1, including interrupting means coupled to saidelectromagnetic means for operating said pen means.

3. A pen for inscribing lines on surfaces to indicate the flight pathand speed of vessels comprising,

a carriage having,

a first circular aperture extending through the center of said carriagein a transverse direction, a solenoid, and having its longitudinal axisparallel to the longitudinal axis of said first aperture, and its topportion being disposed in flush position with the top side of thecarriage, a plurality of rods supporting said carriage and so arrangedto permit lateral motion of said carriage,

marking pen means longitudinally disposed angularly within said firstaperture in a non-writing position,

longitudinal marking fluid reservoir means at one end pivotedly mountedat one edge of the top side of said carriage body and having the top endof said marking pen terminating in the lower side portion of said inkreservoir thereby providing gravity feeding for such marking means,

armature means rotatably disposed at one end on the other oppositelypositioned top edge of the carriage adjacent said solenoid,

link means pivotedly coupling the other end of said armature and theother end of said ink reservoir means,

spring bias means disposed around said pen means whereby energization ofsaid solenoid will rotate the armature and coupled reservoir meansagainst the spring bias to thereby position the longitudinal axis of thepen means transverse to the writing surface.

4. A pen for inscribing lines on surfaces to indicate the flight pathand speed of vessels comprising,

a carriage having,

a first circular aperture extending through the center of said carriagein a transverse direction,

a second and third circular aperture each extending through saidcarriage in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of saidfirst aperture and located near the edges of said carriage and havingtheir respective longitudinal axis parallel to one another,

a solenoid disposed within said carriage, and having its longitudinalaxis parallel to the longitud-inal axis of said first aperture and itstop portion in alignment with the top side of said carriage,

two rods slidably extending through said second and third apertures forsupporting said carriage,

marking pen means longitudinally disposed angularly within said firstaperture in a non-writing position, said pen generally conically shapedand having at its lower end a mechanical ball press-fitted at its apex,

ink reservoir means pivotedly mounted at one edge thereof on one edge ofthe top side of said carriage body, and having the top end of saidmarking pen terminating in the bottom portion of said ink reservoirthereby providing gravity feeding for said marking pen,

armature bar means pivotedly mounted at one end on the other oppositelydisposed top edge of the carriage adjacent said solenoid means,

a two-bar coupling link means pivotedly coupling the other end of saidarmature and the other end of said ink reservoir means,

spring bias means disposed substantially concentrically to thelongitudinal axis of said pen means and located at one end along the topedge of said first circular aperture and disposed at the other endagainst the lower portion of said ink reservoir whereby uponenergization of said solenoid said armature and said pivotedly coupledreservoir means are rotated inwardly against said spring bias means todispose the longitudinal axis of pen means in alignment with thelongitudinal axis of said first aperture thereby depressing the ball endof said pen against the Writing surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS881,479 Merriam Mar. 10, 1908 1,091,804 Burch et a1 Mar. 31, 19142,132,225 Subrizi Oct. 4, 1938 2,761,753 latesta Sept. 4, 1956 FOREIGNPATENTS 27,920 Netherlands Sept. 15, 1932 554,030 Great Britain June 16,1943 1.041.450 France May 27, 1953

1. A PEN FOR INSCRIBING LINES ON SURFACES TO INDICATE THE FLIGHT PATHAND SPEED OF VESSELS COMPRISING, A CARRIAGE HAVING, A TRANSVERSELYEXTENDING APERTURE THROUGH APPROXIMATELY THE CENTER THEREOF,ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS RECESSIVELY CONNECTED TO THE BODY OF SAID CARRIAGEAND DISPOSED IN FLUSH ARRANGEMENT THEREWITH, SUPPORTING MEANS CONNECTEDTO SAID CARRIAGE, SAID CARRIAGE BEING SLIDABLE THEREWITH, MARKING MEANSLONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED ANGULARLY WITHIN SAID APERTURE IN A NON-WRITINGPOSITION, RESERVOIR MARKING MEANS AT ONE END PIVOTEDLY MOUNTED ON THETOP PORTION OF SAID CARRIAGE BODY ADJACENT ONE EDGE THEREOF AND HAVINGTHE NON-MARKING END OF SAID MARKING MEANS TERMINATING IN THE LOWERPORTION OF SAID RESERVOIR MEANS THEREBY PROVIDING GRAVITY FEEDING FORSAID MARKING MEANS, ARMATURE MEANS JUXTAPOSED TO SAID ELECTROMAGNETICMEANS AND ROTATABLY DISPOSED AT ONE END THEREOF ADJACENT THE OTHEROPPOSITELY POSITIONED CARRIAGE EDGE, LINK MEANS PIVOTEDLY COUPLING THEOTHER END OF SAID ARMATURE MEANS AND THE OTHER END OF SAID RESERVOIRMARKING MEANS, SPRING BIAS MEANS ENCIRCLING SAID MARKING MEANS WHEREBYENERGIZATION OF SAID ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS WILL ROTATE THE ARMATUREMEANS AND COUPLED RESERVOIR MEANS AGAINST THE SPRING BIAS MEANS TOTHEREBY VERTICALLY POSITION THE PEN MEANS PREPARATORY TO THE MARKINGOPERATION.